15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Indiana
Summer can be a great time to go beyond your regular classes and explore subjects that genuinely interest you. Structured summer programs allow you to build practical skills, work on projects, connect with mentors, and gain exposure to potential career paths. Whether you are interested in research, healthcare, engineering, business, technology, or environmental work, there are several strong opportunities available.
Why should you attend a program in Indiana?
Indiana is home to several universities, medical research institutions, nonprofit organizations, and industry partners that offer learning opportunities for students. Depending on the program you choose, you could conduct cancer research, learn artificial intelligence, explore cybersecurity, work on environmental projects, study business leadership, or gain experience in healthcare settings. These experiences can help you better understand a potential major or career path while also developing valuable academic and professional skills.
To help you get started, we've narrowed down this list to 15 of the best summer programs for high school students in Indiana.
If you’re looking for math programs in Indiana, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These programs span cancer research, AI, cybersecurity, environmental work, healthcare, business, aviation, engineering, and leadership, so students with a wide range of interests can find a relevant summer opportunity in Indiana.
Several programs are free or fully funded, including SEED/STEM (with a stipend up to $4,000), IU Simon Cancer Center Future Scientist Program, EPCR, Kelley Women's Leadership Institute, Project Stepping Stone, and Eskenazi Health VolunTEEN, while paid work opportunities, such as CLIMB ($12/hour) and KIB Youth Tree Team ($13/hour), provide income alongside experience.
Programs range from one-day or one-week introductory experiences (Kelley KWLI, Butler Pre-College Programs, Project Stepping Stone) to multi-week research internships (SEED/STEM, EPCR, IU Simon Cancer Center Future Scientist Program), so students can choose based on their availability and depth of interest.
Application deadlines range from January (Notre Dame Leadership Seminars, EPCR) to May (Butler Pre-College Programs), with several programs, such as Veritas AI, Lumiere, and CLIMB, accepting rolling applications throughout the year.
1. SEED/STEM Summer Program at Indiana CTSI
Location: Indiana University School of Medicine, IU Indianapolis, and IBRI in Indianapolis
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded; participants receive a stipend up to $4,000, depending on financial need
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 8 – July 30
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Current Indiana high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors who have completed at least one high school chemistry course
The program allows you to work directly with faculty mentors on active scientific research projects while receiving financial support through a stipend. The SEED/STEM Summer Program is part of Project SEED and focuses on increasing access to careers in science and research. You will be matched with a faculty mentor and contribute to research in areas such as chemistry, biomedical engineering, and basic sciences. Throughout the experience, you work alongside researchers and gain exposure to how professional research is conducted. The program also includes college preparation and professional development workshops. At the end, you present your findings through a research poster presentation.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by the program. Need-based financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 12–15-week cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world
Veritas AI allows you to explore artificial intelligence through project-based learning and mentorship from experienced instructors. Students new to AI can begin with the AI Scholars program and learn foundational machine learning and data science concepts. More advanced students may pursue the AI Fellowship, where they work individually with mentors on a research project. You gain exposure to real-world AI applications while developing technical skills. Some students also receive support for publishing research findings. If you're looking at technology-focused summer programs for high school students in Indiana, this virtual option may be worth exploring.
3. IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center Future Scientist Program
Location: IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded; interns receive a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Early June – Late July
Application Deadline: February 28 (Tentative)
Eligibility: High school juniors from Marion County public schools with a GPA of 3.0
This program places you inside an active biomedical research environment where you can learn how scientific discoveries move from ideas to experiments. You work in labs focused on cancer biology and other life sciences. Depending on your placement, you may explore genetics, molecular biology, cell biology, or translational research. Faculty and researchers guide you through laboratory processes and data interpretation. You also gain insight into how medical research contributes to patient care.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies by the program. Full financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June – August), Fall (September – December), Winter (December – February), and Spring (March – June)
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
5. CLIMB High School Summer Internship
Location: Elkhart, IN
Stipend: $12/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June – July; 6 – 8 weeks
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who are 16+
In this program, you collaborate directly with local organizations and businesses to address genuine operational and organizational challenges. Through team projects, you might enhance technology systems, improve workflows, or refine planning processes. Mentors offer guidance on communication, teamwork, and workplace expectations. This experience familiarizes you with project-based problem solving, similar to consulting work. Students frequently present their recommendations to community partners, making CLIMB one of Indiana's most practical summer programs for high school students focused on workplace experience.
6. Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB) Youth Tree Team
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Stipend: $13/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 20 hours/week for 7 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Typically early April
Eligibility: High school students aged 14+
KIB’s Youth Tree Team is part summer job, part environmental workforce experience. You spend the season helping care for Indianapolis’ urban tree canopy, which means much of the work happens outdoors in parks, neighborhoods, medians, and other community spaces. Along the way, you build practical skills in tree maintenance, environmental stewardship, teamwork, and workplace responsibility. Weekly enrichment sessions add a professional development layer, covering topics such as tree identification, financial literacy, hiking, and learning from local community partners.
7. Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA) Internship Program
Location: Indianapolis International Airport (IND), Indianapolis, IN
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 15+ students
Dates: May 17 – August 7
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students interested in aviation or airport management
The IAA Internship Program gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how a major airport operates as both a transportation hub and a public-facing organization. Interns gain exposure to aviation, airport management, infrastructure, customer service, and cross-departmental work. The program includes job shadowing rotations, access to employees at different levels, one-on-one time with executive leadership, airport system tours, networking events, and real-world projects that can strengthen your resume or portfolio. This can be a strong option if you are interested in aviation, logistics, public infrastructure, operations, or business management.
8. IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center – Educational Pathways for Cancer Research (EPCR)
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded; participants receive a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: May 26 – July 31
Application Deadline: January 31 (tentative)
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors
EPCR is designed for students seeking a rigorous introduction to biomedical and cancer-focused research. Over the course of the program, you are paired with a mentor and contribute to a project that may involve laboratory research, clinical research, or computer-based database work. The experience asks you to think through research questions, interpret data, troubleshoot experiments, and communicate your findings in both poster and oral presentation formats. You also interact with cancer center researchers, students, clinical fellows, and postdoctoral fellows, giving you a closer look at how research communities operate.
9. CLA High School Internship Program
Location: CLA offices (e.g., Indianapolis or select IN sites; nationwide)
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Varies
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Ages 16–18
CLA High School Internship Program gives you early exposure to accounting, consulting, tax, wealth advisory, and other professional services fields. The paid, in-person program is structured around workplace learning, mentorship, and projects that help you understand how professional services teams support businesses, families, and communities. Interns are assigned laptops, work on a business-casual schedule, and participate in a four-week experience designed specifically for high school students. You get a closer look at how client service, communication, analysis, and teamwork function inside a national firm.
10. Kelley Women's Leadership Institute (KWLI)
Location: Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited seats
Dates: April 22 & 29; June 12, June 26, July 10, July 24
Application Deadline: January 5 – March 20
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5
KWLI introduces you to business through the lens of leadership, communication, and women’s representation in the field. You can attend a one-day in-person session at Indiana University Bloomington or participate virtually, depending on the program format available to your grade level. During the institute, you attend faculty-led lectures, examine a real-world business case, and work with peers who are also interested in business careers. It can be a good fit if you want early exposure to business school-style learning without committing to a full residential summer program.
11. Project Stepping Stone
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective, 75–85 students chosen per year
Dates: June 14 – 19
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Hispanic/Latino Hoosier students currently enrolled as a sophomore or junior at an Indiana high school with a minimum 3.0 GPA
Project Stepping Stone is built around a clear purpose: helping Indiana Hispanic/Latino high school students prepare for college and see themselves on campus. During the one-week program, you visit several Indiana colleges and universities while learning how to evaluate academic options, understand admissions expectations, and think through the practical steps of getting to college. The program also includes mentorship and college-readiness support, so the experience goes beyond campus tours alone. Because 75–85 students are selected each year, the cohort is large enough to build community but still selective.
12. Eskenazi Health VolunTEEN Program
Location: Eskenazi Health Downtown, Indianapolis, IN
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots per session
Dates: June 1 – 12, June 15 – 26, July 6 – 17
Application Deadline: February 27 (tentative)
Eligibility: Students ages 14–19 interested in healthcare
Eskenazi Health’s VolunTEEN Program gives you a structured way to explore healthcare before college. The two-week format begins with orientation, facility tours, professional development, career discussions, and activities that introduce you to the healthcare workplace. In the second week, the focus shifts toward volunteering, shadowing, and observation in a hospital or patient-care setting. You also discuss educational requirements, goal setting, networking, and the range of clinical and non-clinical roles that support patient care.
13. Notre Dame Leadership Seminars
Location: Notre Dame, IN
Cost/Stipend: Tuition, housing, and meals are covered; a $75 application fee and a $150 enrollment fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective, only 150 students admitted per year
Dates: July 18 – 29
Application Deadline: January 21
Eligibility: Academically talented rising high school seniors aged 16+
Notre Dame Leadership Seminars is less of a general summer enrichment program and more of a selective residential academic seminar. Each year, about 150 students are admitted to the 10-day program, where they study a focused topic with Notre Dame faculty and peers who have strong academic and leadership records. Seminar options span areas such as business, inequality, global conflict, technology, data, AI, financial literacy, and public life. The format emphasizes discussion, analysis, and applied thinking.
14. Luddy Indianapolis Pre-College Summer Academy
Location: IU Bloomington Campus, IN
Cost: $300 for virtual and $950 for in-person
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment until full
Dates: Virtual: June 15 – 19; Residential: July 26 – August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10–12
The Luddy Precollege Summer STEM Camp gives you a broad introduction to computing, technology, and engineering-related problem-solving. The program exposes you to several areas of modern tech, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, 3D modeling, virtual world design, Internet of Things systems, and the social impact of technology. You also learn how Python can be used to control systems and solve problems across science, engineering, and society. Because the residential camp takes place on IU’s Bloomington campus, you also get a preview of what it is like to learn in a university technology environment.
15. Butler University Pre-College Programs
Location: Butler University, Indianapolis, IN
Cost: $25 deposit to register; full tuition cost varies by program track
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment, rolling admissions until spots are filled
Dates: Exploratory (June 7 – 12); Business (June 21 – 26); Healthcare (July 12 – 17)
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: High school students; residential and commuter options available
Butler’s Pre-College Programs are designed to give you a one-week preview of college learning, campus life, and possible academic pathways. You choose from an Exploratory, Business, or Healthcare track, depending on whether you want to sample multiple fields or focus on a more specific career area. The Business track includes hands-on work in areas such as marketing, entrepreneurship, and risk management, while the Healthcare track uses simulated labs and applied learning to introduce health-related careers. Residential students live in a first-year residence hall, eat on campus, and participate in evening activities, while local students can choose the commuter option.
Frequently asked questions
1. What summer programs are available for high school students in Indiana?
Options include biomedical and cancer research programs, such as SEED/STEM, IU Simon Cancer Center Future Scientist Program, and EPCR, AI and technology programs, such as Veritas AI, Luddy Indianapolis Pre-College Summer Academy, and Lumiere Research Scholar Program, environmental and workforce programs, such as KIB Youth Tree Team and CLIMB, healthcare programs, such as Eskenazi Health VolunTEEN and Butler Healthcare track, and business and leadership programs, such as Kelley Women's Leadership Institute and Notre Dame Leadership Seminars.
2. Are there free or paid summer programs for high school students in Indiana?
Yes, SEED/STEM is fully funded with a stipend up to $4,000; IU Simon Cancer Center Future Scientist Program and EPCR are fully funded with stipends; Kelley Women's Leadership Institute, Project Stepping Stone, and Eskenazi Health VolunTEEN are free. CLIMB pays $12/hour, and KIB Youth Tree Team pays $13/hour. Veritas AI and Lumiere Research Scholar Program offer need-based financial aid.
3. Which Indiana programs are best for students interested in biomedical research or medicine?
Students interested in biomedical research or medicine might consider SEED/STEM for chemistry and biomedical engineering research with a stipend, IU Simon Cancer Center Future Scientist Program for cancer biology lab experience, EPCR for mentored cancer research with poster and oral presentations, Eskenazi Health VolunTEEN for structured healthcare shadowing and observation, and Butler Pre-College Healthcare track for a one-week introduction to health careers.
4. When should I apply to summer programs for high school students in Indiana?
The earliest deadlines are Notre Dame Leadership Seminars (January 21) and IU Simon EPCR (January 31), followed by Kelley Women's Leadership Institute (January 5 to March 20) and IU Simon Future Scientist Program (February 28). Eskenazi Health VolunTEEN closes around February 27, and Project Stepping Stone closes March 31. Programs, such as Veritas AI, Lumiere, and CLIMB, accept rolling applications, so students should begin researching options in the fall and apply early for competitive programs.